"Yes, Mr. Black," Lily said wryly before continuing. "He and you are connected now, but you don't have to be if you don't want to."
I shivered and clutched at Mr. Black. Being separated from him didn't sound good, not at all. But was it rational? I barely knew these people.
"Emma, you saved a lot of people today, but that nearly killed you, is killing you now." Lily continued
I blanched. That didn't seem right at all, I only caught one child before passing out. And surely I wasn't dying?
"That's not"--but Lily spoke before I could finish.
"I can save your life if you continue the Bond you've started with my friend. It is deep and permanent and spiritual, Emma. You've got to truly agree to the connection with him."
I frowned deeply, attempting to face the man holding me in his arms. He helped me so that my head was comfortably in the crook of his arm and he was looking down at me. His eyes were tender. But why? And why did I trust him so? Need him so? And why did I instinctively believe Lily? A Bond? Sure I knew about the power of love, of community but nothing like this. This sounded like an easy miracle. But still, something in my bones believed.
"But you can't possibly want that. Can you? You barely know me? You'd be stuck forever!" I whispered, casting my eyes to his collarbone shyly.
"I've already agreed," came his firm reply.
"It's up to you Emma," said Lily softly.
I didn't know it was possible to be elated and mortified and in this much pain all at the same time. This man was willing to tie his life to mine. But the throbbing in my head was growing into an unbearable burn and I felt something warm dripping from my nose.
"Emma, it's got to be now," urgently called Lily.
"Please," pleaded Mr. Black into my hair and I couldn't deny him.
"Okay," I whispered, closing my eyes in exhaustion, "I agree."
Then Lily was humming and everything was warm and wonderful. I was cocooned in a pleasant warmth that spread through my aching form, healing as it traveled. Soon, I felt lighter, the oppressive pain in my head lifting. My vision, previously blurred and spotty, now came into sharp focus.
Lily bent down to inspect me, her fingers lightly brushing my cheeks. She nodded to herself, obviously satisfied, patted my knee and stood before glancing at the gangly bespectacled man. She smiled at him tenderly before murmuring, "She's out of the woods. I'll be upstairs for a moment, to check on Harry."
The man, her husband I remembered, nodded at her and deflated into a large armchair in a near corner, clearly relaxing at his wife's signal the worst was over. He turned to me then, and smiled. "You're looking better then."
I felt the beautiful man sigh in relief beneath me. I could feel steady rhythm of his heartbeat, finding it synchronizing with mine. The sensation was grounding, settling deep within me. Drawing up my courage in a deep breath, I tilted my head upwards.
I was greeted by the sight of stormy grey eyes crinkling in relief, happiness, and wonder. The thought again sifted unbidden to the front of my mind. He was so beautiful. His thumb soothingly brushed against my cheek where I was surprised to realize a tear had fallen.
"You've done well, dove," he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. My god, he was tactile I mused as I cast my eyes to hands in mortification. I wasn't exactly complaining though.
"Alright, Sirius. Don't overwhelm her," called Lily as she entered the room again, now with a small baby on her hip.
I froze. An unpleasant realization was dawning dully. I clutched the beautiful man's hand, searching for something solid amidst the chaos as my eyes found his again.
"You ... your name is Sirius Black?!" I questioned, my voice pitching along with the pace of my heart.
He beamed down at me dazzlingly. "Shit gorgeous, didn't realize I hadn't fully introduced myself, terrible manners, that."
No. He certainly hadn't. None of them had warned me they thought they were fictional characters. I blinked several times, pressing my fingers into the bridge of my nose. The room spun for a moment, and it wasn't from residual pain.
The bespectacled man spoke again, unaware of my mounting panic, "I'm James Potter, by the way. Best to complete the set," he introduced with a friendly grin.
"Oh no. Oh my god" I moaned. I tried to sit up, now suddenly desperate to be alert. Sirius's arm supported me as he looked down at me anxiously. I disentangled myself from his arms but stayed seated on the sofa. I couldn't bring myself to move any further from him.
"Hey, hey angel. Are you in pain? What's wrong?" Sirius cooed at me. He was squeezing my knee, his other hand searching to hold mine once more. He looked a bit hurt I had left his arms, a small wrinkle appearing between his brows, his grey eyes searching for my gaze.
Dammit, why couldn't I make myself tear away from him? Rationally, I realized I should probably be plotting ways to reach the door, to run for my life. Were these three my captors? Had they dragged me through some horrible drug-induced stupor to brainwash me?
But no, the man beside me felt like safety itself and the idea of losing his grasp sent a cold chill down my spine. And Lily had been so kind, soothing my aches, calming me with her kindness. Why did I trust them so implicitly, even in this mounting anxiety?
"C'mon sweetheart, you've got to answer me. Are you still hurt?" came Sirius's worried voice once more.
But I couldn't speak, couldn't move. Perhaps it was I who was insane, I wondered not for the first time since waking in this mad place. That was it. I had gone mad.
"Lils, help. Something's wrong" Sirius called desperately. He was smoothing my hair again, a thumb brushing over my jaw.
Lily placed Harry in James's arms and placed a palm gently on my cheek. I recoiled and she frowned.
"She's fully healed physically but I think she might be having a panic attack. She's just been through a great ordeal."
I shook my head. "None of you are real. This isn't real. I'm dreaming. I just need to wake up. I just need to wake up," I whispered, willing a rational reality into existence.
Sirius brushed a stray hair from my face. "Well, if this is a dream, love, it's a pretty long one. Because I've been living it for years."
Lily's frowned deepened, following my frantic eyes until I was forced to look into her steady green gaze. Her voice was slow and deliberate. "Emma, breathe. Just breathe. You're not dreaming. You're safe and here and alive."
Sirius lifted an arm around my shoulder and gripped me protectively. I leaned in unconsciously. My breath was slowing but the scene before me wasn't changing. And Sirius's embrace felt firmer, realer than ever.
"Emma?" Lily said softly. But I was getting a bit angry now. Why wouldn't they drop it? Why wasn't I back in my bed, grumbling at the streetlights bleeding through the windows in my apartment?
"You're James Potter, Lily Potter, and Sirius Black!" I exclaimed hysterically.
"I'm assuming you've heard of us?" James ventured hesitantly, bouncing Harry on his knee.
Sirius glared at him and squeezed my hand again. "It sounds like you have some questions, gorgeous. All you have to do is ask."
Why did he have to feel so wonderful and sound so reasonable? Wasn't he supposed to be a bit of a loose cannon? I looked in his eyes for the first time since beginning to hyperventilate.
"Are you ... this is real? I'm really here?" I whispered, somehow knowing whatever he said next would be the truth.
"Yes dove," he nodded, his eyes still holding a bit of confusion and concern, "We're real."
I breathed.
This was real. Magic was real.